A Crafty Event for Christmas!

Unfortunatly today's craft fair wasn't very successful so I've decided to organise my own! In two hours this afternoon I have booked a venue and booked in loads of stall holders from the contacts I made today! So here are the details -

Ladies Craft and Gift Fair

Trimley Sports and Social Club, Trimley ST Martin, Felixstowe

Thursday 4th December

7.30pm-10.30pm

Stalls already booked include - handmade cards, jewellery, local photographs, manicures and beauty gifts, candles and oil burners, chocolate, children's books, glassware, table favours and loads more!!!!!!!!!

Hope to see you there!

Craft and Collectables Fair - Felixstowe Leisure Centre

Just a quick post to advertise the Craft and

Collectables Fair being held at the Felixstowe Leisure Centre next Sunday - 16th November. I will be selling my handmade cards there. My friend Bex has framed local photographs for sale, and Cheryl has beauty gifts on offer. There will be loads of other opportunities to stock up on prezzies ready for Christmas. The Felixstowe Sunday market is just down the road and there are plenty of places to eat - followed by a brisk walk on the prom!!

Let's face it!

Thought I'd pop on some of my 'Let's face it' ATC's that I did for Chriss' monthly challenge over on http://chriss-rollins.blogspot.com/ Thanks Chriss for emailing me the piccies. I had a go at doing something I hadn't tried before. I used pictures from magazines, acrylic paints, alphabet stamps and sparkly gems and just kind of went for it!

I'm still here!

I have neglected my blog a little over the last few weeks - I've been so busy at work and tired! Hate those clocks changing! I've been doing some crafting - mainly Christmas cards and playing with the fab Jolly Nation TSV I bought from QVC a few weeks ago. I have also had the mamouth task of sorting out all my craft things in the spare room into plastic boxes. I'm not sure how long things will stay organised but I'll post some piccies when I've finished my labels! xx

Leonie's challenge

This weeks challenge from Leonie is 'Objects of Desire.'

Living in a seaside town, I've always loved the sea so chose these images from http://www.aisling.net/. As I missed last weeks stripey challenge I started with some stripey paper, (thank you to my crafty friend Mary for sending it to me!), in a colour scheme I adore. I used a jelly fish stamp I got at a car boot sale last week for 20p, with a blue ink pad to stamp over the paper. I inked around the images, stuck on some matching ribbon and added some gems and a silver star fish. I coloured in some peel off letters in a co-ordinating colour to spell 'the sea'.

I bought some lovely goodies from Papermaize when I visited Vanessa's shop a few weeks ago. http://www.papermaize.co.uk/ and used them to make this ATC. I love the red, white and black colour scheme of these goodies. I particularly liked the Seven Gypsies ATC overlays - hadn't used these before, but I love them! Can't wait to create some more ATC's using these goodies!

Fairy Tale ATC's

Take a look over on Chriss' blog http://chriss-rollins.blogspot.com/ where she has posted piccies of my fabric and stitched ATC's that I submitted for her fairy tales swap. Thanks to Chriss for showing them. It was the first time I had tried sewing on my ATC's!

Fibres and Fings

This is Leonie's challenge for this week. I started by stamping some swirls on a pink ATC base card. Then I covered it with a piece of pretty fabric which came from the cover of an old notebook. I'd been keeping it ready for some inspiration! I attached the fabric with mini black and white brads. I tied ribbon around the card and threaded on some beads (from my broken bracelet!). I finished the card with a couple of purple buttons. I was really please with the results as I'd had the fabric for ages but not known what to do with it!

Punch Power!

Leonie's challenge this week is to use a ounch on your ATC. I covered a section of a red ATC blank in floral paper and used a heart punch to punch out two shapes down the right hand side. I tied red ribbon through the punched shapes. I tore the word 'power' out of a dictionary I bought from the pound shop and inked around the edges. I stuck this on and used white and red heart shaped punch outs around it, finishing off with some brads and flower embellishments that look punched!

MY ATC'S IN PRINT!!!

Check out Papercraft Inspirations Issue 52 (October '08). They ran an ATC swap a couple of months ago and have printed a selection from the swap - mine included! Mine are on the top of the 3rd page and are titled 'Retro Kitchen', in red and white. That was a surprise when I opened my magazine over lunch!

Christmas is coming!

Yes I've got slightly in the festive mood! I got the Kanban Xmas kit from QVC a few weeks ago and had to have a play. I've used pre-printed cards from the new Papermania range and bauble shaped cards from Dovecraft. The images and pyramage are from the Kanban kit and I added some coloured peel offs by Dawn Bibby. To finish the bauble card I added some ribbon. I think they create really professional looking cards, ready for the craft fairs I've booked into in the Autumn.

Something different.

Thought I'd do something different! The book came in a QVC kit which Leonie demonstrated last week. The kit is lovely with pre-printed patterned cards (My current craze!), chipboard and cardstock embellishments etc. The book has sections inside and is perfect for organising ATC's which is what Leonie had done with hers. I tied on some fibres, added chipboard letters (from another QVC kit), stamped a heart image, and added gems and a button.

I had been tempted to buy a ribbon organiser for ages as I was fed up untangling ribbons in my choc tin but then decided to save some pennies and make my own. I painted a plain box with acrylic paint, stuck on some whole pieces of dovecraft paper and cut out some flowers. I also stuck on some painted jigsaw pieces and the same chipboard letters as before. My first attempt at altering something!

Leonie is back!

Leonie is back online and setting her Friday challenges. The title for this weeks challenge is "Highlights". I chose to highlight a flower in the Dovecraft paper I used by using a blue ink pad across the rest of the ATC, outlining the flower with a pen and adding some gems. I finished with some sticky ribbon and a word tile.

A few ATC's I've made this week

I've had a run on making cards this week and my current craze is using pre printed patterned cards rather than starting with a blank card (will post some of the cards I've made next week). These are some of the ATC's I've made using left over paper etc from my cards. I am trying to stick to my new years resolution of making an ATC straight away with the left overs rather than having bits and pieces everywhere! I did tidy up my craft room but have got so carried away with ideas this week that it's looking a bit messy again! Does anyone else have this problem? I always have the intention of tidying up but would rather spend the time crafting!

If you would like to trade for any of these ATC's then let me know (1,2,3 or 4) I need to do some trades as I've got carried away and have 100 in my swap box!!

My Baby is One!

We've had a lovely weekend celebrating Marco's 1st Birthday. I don't know where the last year has gone! Here he is playing in the 'builders tray' I bought for the garden. There are lots of ideas for how to use a builders tray for small world play in my book 'The Little Book of Small World Play' published by Featherstone. (also available on Amazon) Ideal for anyone who works with children. (a little plug there!) (A girl needs to subsidise her crafting goodies somehow!)

Crafting with McDonalds!

I was struck by this image on my McDonalds bag and had to recycle her! I used a black inkpad and paisley stamp on a red base card, added black Papermania gems, black ribbon and a 'smile' text sticker. The button was one of my car boot sale finds. (sorry the pic is a bit dark - the black ribbon is in the top right hand corner)

As with any of my ATC's featured on my blog - if you want to trade her then let me know!

Wylde Woman Award!

Thanks to Alison for including me in her nominations for the wylde woman award. xx

These are the rules to pass it on -

1. You can give it to one or one hundred or any number in between - it’s up to you! Make sure you link to their site on your post.
2. Link back to Tammy’s blog (the originator of the Award).
The purpose of the Award is to send love and acknowledgement to women who brighten your day, teach you new things, and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.
There are so many inspiring ladies in the crafting world whose blogs I love to visit and I have chosen the following ladies (I think some of you ladies may already have the award but I didn't want to miss anyone out!)

Alison - you would be one of my nominations!

Leonie

Missy K

Carolyn

Chriss

Daisy
Heather

Linda

Carley

I could go on..............

Another Award!

My ATC and blog pal Alison gave me this award. Thanks Alison. I'm finding it hard to decide who to pass it on to so I've taken note from another blog friend Heather and am leaving the award open to you. If you are a regular visitor to my blog then consider yourself awarded!

P.S Did anyone watch craft day yesterday? I did watch quite a bit but couldn't quite make it until midnight. My credit card did treat me to the TSV - lot's of scope to include your own ideas with that kit I thought. I'd love to know what you bought!

I've been tagged!

Linda has tagged me so here goes -
1.What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was in my 2nd year of my teaching degree.

2.Name 5 things on todays 'to do' list....

• Tidy my craft room (this is going to take ages!)
• File my nails!
• Write to my crafty pals with new ATC swaps.
• Buy some veggies for my Mum's rabbit who is staying with us while my parents are on holiday.
• Visit my favourite blogs!

3.Snacks I enjoy... chocolate! and anything naughty!

4.Things I would do if I was a millionaire...Buy a big house with a log cabin in the garden to craft in!

5.Places I have lived...I live in Felixstowe, Suffolk. I lived in Cheltenham for 3 years while I was studying for my teaching degree (no it wasn't the ladies college!!!).

I've just chosen two people to tag who I don't think have been tagged before! Missy K and Carolyn

A constructive afternoon!

After loosing my way last weekend when I sat down to craft - I've had a productive time this afternoon. I had a play with a couple of the Kanban 'Concept cards'. At first I thought they might be too restrictive but I enjoyed using the kits to get back in the swing of things! I haven't made any cards for quite a while so it was nice to have a play. I used the scraps I had left over from one of the kits to make the first ATC in the monochrome scheme we all seem to love. The green ATC was made using K&Co paper and one of the rub ons I bought the other weekend. I've just realised they both have a butterfly theme!

I've been shopping!

I had great fun on Sunday! I wanted to post this last night but my laptop wouldn't let me! On Sunday I went to a small papercraft show near Ipswich and this is what I bought!

The K&Co Life's Journey 6X6 paper pads were a bargain at £3 each BOGOF! I was tempted to buy the whole lot! I also bought some gorgeous Maya Road house rub ons and some bird and paisley rub ons, and K&Co word stickers. The stamp stickers were a bargain at £1 as were the tie brads at 95p! I then went on to a Craft Central and bought a few more items that I NEEDED! I haven't really had any time to craft over the last week or so as I've been getting stuck back into work but I've enjoyed seeing what everyone else has been busy creating. So I'm looking forward to having a play with my new goodies.

When I got back on Sunday we drove to Manningtree where I counted 150 swans just in the spot that we were in! I couldn't fit them all on!

Marco was amazed! I can't believe my baby is going to be one in a few weeks!

My first award!

I was really excited to recieve this award from Carley http://blondewitchycreations.blogspot.com Thank you so much!

With the Arte y pico award, the details of which are as follows:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.

4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte Y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these conditions.

I have chosen the following blogs which I love to visit regularly and am inspired by every time I do.

Alison http://craftytrog.wordpress.com Alison has only been blogging a short time but has done so well in setting up her blog.

Heather http://creativesolace.blogspot.com Heather is so talented and I'm delighted to be trading ATC's with her all the way across the Atlantic!

Daisy http://distinctly-daisy.blogspot.com Daisy is so clever and I love everything she creates.

Missy K http://littlecraftingmiss.blogspot.com I love seeing what Missy K creates every week for Leonie's challenge and she always leaves such kind comments on my blog.

Carolyn http://carolyndraper.blogspot.com Another crafter who I take inspiration from every Friday during Leonie's challenge and who visits my blog too.

Thanks to those people who have wished me well on my return to work. Thank goodness the weekend is nearly here and I can do some crafting. I've missed it and been too tired in the evening to do any this week. On Sunday there is a papercraft show near Ipswich so I think I will reward myself with a few goodies!

Fab Friday and Delightful Decoupage!

Leonie's challenge this week was to use decoupage on your ATC. I have chosen this decoupage image by Margaret Sherry. I chose this one as I'm going back to work tomorrow after having been off for a year. So after a day with 6 children with behaviour problems I will be needing to crack open a bottle! Phil has been making a home brew down in the shed so I'll have to try it!

More recycling!

I've been saving things from the bin again! The green base for these cards is the packaging from my new wok! The card has a printed white pattern on which I stamped over in black using a foam oriental stamp I bought from a car boot sale for 20p! I coloured in some peel offs using a red pen and used the negative and positive images from one peel off. I added a coin, ribbon and pearl gems. The text is also cut from the packaging. The wok cooks a nice stir fry by the way!

P.S Thank you to my friend Mary who sent me a gorgeous ATC holder that she has made. I know you have had trouble leaving comments Mary so I thought I'd give you a special mention!

Pretty Piece of Paper

I really enjoyed this challenge as I have so many pretty papers but tend to use them flat as I don't like to cut them! I also have lots of sheets that I keep for best! I've seen Leonie and Dawn demonstrate this technique before but never had a go. So thanks Leonie for getting me to look at my papers in a different way!

I used Dovecraft butterfly and paisley paper and decided to decoupage the paisley parts not the obvious butterflies. I inked around the edges of the base card and the pieces before I decoupaged. The text is cut from a K&Co paper and I finished by punching some pink hearts out of plain paper as there are small hearts in the main paper.
I then got carried away with my scraps (while footie was on) and went on to make another 4 ATC's (sitting in bed watching Big Brother!) using the same papers, some coloured match sticks and sparkly gems. I am really pleased with these and am going to experiment with some other pretty papers!

More dolls!

I've made some more Russian doll ATC's this week so I thought I'd pop on some more piccies of my collection. This is one of my favourite dolls - I found her at a car boot sale for £1. The pattern has been burnt onto the wood and they have used gold and siler leaf too. The smallest doll is the size of my thumb nail!

I made the next 2 ATC's using my new Gustav Klimt stamps from Cherry Pie Stamps in America - you can buy their stamps through Ebay. They have loads of lovely sets of unmounted stamps. I used Joanna Sheen EZ Mount to enable me to use them with my acrylic block.

Here I've used the tradional image of a Russian Doll.

These are the more traditional looking dolls and most of them are hollow as they are bottle holders, salt and pepper pots and trinket holders. The 2nd largest one is made of plastic to keep your bottle cool inside. My friend found her at a French market for 1 Euro!

Hope you like them!

Ebony & Ivory - Sunday Stampers

Hels challenge this week at http://pinkleart.blogspot.com is monotone themed. I've used one of my new Gustav Klimt (my fav artist) stamps from Cherry Pie. Klimt's work is very colourful so I thought I'd use one of his images in a toned down way for this challenge. I added buttons, ribbon and inked a jigsaw piece. I got the jigsaw in a charity shop for 50p. They were going to throw it away as there are pieces missing so i'm recycling again!

Leonie's challenge - Recollection and Reciepts

This week Leonie's challenge was to make an ATC using tickets/leaflets etc from a day out.


Yesterday we had a great day out at the Easton Festival at Easton Farm Park in Suffolk. Phil has a 1970's beetle (see piccie!) which we took for the classic car display. There were also food and craft stalls, dancing displays, bands and of course you could see the farm animals too. Here's a piccie of one of the cute little goats!


For the background of my ATC, I've used part of the map inside the programme for the day. I stamped a VW Camper image in the top right hand corner, and inked around the edges of the card with a green ink pad. I added a VW themed sticker, and bling for the headlights! The tag is made from the price label of a piggie pen I bought in the gift shop, so a bit of recycling too!

Russian Dolls!

This week chriss has a Russian Doll ATC challenge.

As a collector of Russian Dolls I got very excited about this challenge! Here's my ATC and some piccies of my vast collection! I thought I had about 60 but actually have over 100 dolls, plus magnets, handbags, key rings, salt and pepper pots, pens, etc!! Most of my dolls have been found at car boot sales, antiques fairs and charity shops. They smile at me and I have to take them home! I do think that they breed in my cabinets - after all they are a symbol of fertility! I'd love to hear what you collect.

Chop and Change

Leonie's easier challenge(!) this week was to chop your ATC and change it.

Trust me this ATC looks better in real life than in this photo!

I covered a base card in Dovecraft paisley paper and chopped the corners off. I used the remaining pieces to create a collage on a new base card. I then stamped a paisley stamp onto the collage and embossed it. However - I hadn't thought that the heat gun would melt the micro dots and the pieces moved around the ATC in places I hadn't planned! But I decided to keep going and see what happened. I then stuck the corners from the first ATC onto 3-D foam and attached them to the corners of the new base card. I chose 3 co-ordinating butterfly stickers from a QVC kit and finished with some ribbon and papermania gems. So in the end my little mishap didn't look too bad (the stickers covered it!) This was a hard one to take a photo of, probably because it's so dark with the constant rain here!!

Leonie's tone on tone challenge

This weeks fab Friday challenge from Leonie was 'tone on tone'. You could only use tones of one colour and then black or white for your lettering. This challenge has been bugging me for a few days as it's not as easy as you first think!

I covered a base card with torn purple tissue paper and pva glue to give a glossy finish. I then coloured in a butterfly peel off using a purple peel off pen and stuck this on. I used purple papermania gems to highlight parts of the peel off. In the bottom right hand corner I used purple buttons and flower stickers in a collage effect and to finish I used white peel offs for my wording. This has to be your hardest challenge yet Leonie!

Dressmakers Dreams!

At a car boot sale at the weekend I rumaged through an old sewing box and found some buttons, studs etc for £1! I had sewing themed ATC's in mind and here is my first one so far. So I've moved away from travel and into sewing for my next batch!